Hospital tray



Dec. 31, 1935 c. w, MEINECKE HOSPITAL TRAY Filed Sept. 5, 1935 lNl/EN TOR CHRIST/AN W MEINECKE UNITED STATES 5 1; OUR! PATENT OFFICE HOSPITAL TRAY Christian W. Meinecke, East Orange, N. J., as-

signor to Meinecke a Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,224

2 Claims.

This invention relates to medicine glass holders and more particularly to a hospital tray for carrying one or more medicine glasses.

An object of the invention is to provide a tray of the above type in which the glasses are conveniently arranged and identified.

Another object is to provide a medicine glass tray having card holders adjacent each glass for receiving and identifying the same.

Another object is to provide a tray which is cheap and simple to construct, convenient to use, and which avoids possibility of confusing the different glasses.

A feature of the invention consists in a tray formed from a one-piece blank and having supporting legs formed at the edges thereof, one or more glass receiving openings formed at convenient locations therein, and a card holder formed adjacent each opening. In one embodiment the card holder comprises an inclined support or easel which is struck out of the blank and is bent upwardly into an inclined position in front of each glass receiving opening. Clips are struck out of each holder and are arranged to receive and hold the identifying card in plain view in front of each glass.

The tray is intended for use in hospitals and the like where medicines for several patients are made up in a medicine room together with cards bearing suitable identification and instructions. When a glass with the medicine in it is placed in one of the openings, its card is at the same time inserted in the holder adjacent to the glass to which it belongs, so that danger of displacement of the cards or confusion of the medicines is avoided.

Other features of the invention consist in the various details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully set forth. The broader aspects of the invention will be better understood, however, by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing from a part thereof in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan-view of a tray constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a form of tray adapted to hold a single glass.

In the following description and in the claims various details of the invention are referred to by specific terms for convenience. These terms,

however, are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the invention is shown as comprising a tray which is stamped out of a one-piece blank and is pro- 5 vided with a horizontal surface I0 and with supporting legs ll formed at the edges thereof in suitable position to hold the horizontal surface Ill at convenient elevation for receiving and supporting the glasses. The legs It may be joined by flanges I2 which are also formed from the blank and are bent downwardly at the periphery of the tray for purposes of strengthening the assembly and for improving the appearance thereof. It is to be understood, however, that the 15 particular form of the legs II and of the joining flanges I! may be varied as desired. A preferred form is shown merely for purposes of illustration.

A plurality of glass openings I4 are formed in the horizontal surface I0 and are suitably arranged to receive and hold the various glasses. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the glass openings H are arranged in a plurality of transverse and horizontal rows. It is to be understood, how- 25 ever, that this arrangement may be modified as desired. A depressed lip I5 is struck downwardly from the blank around each of the openings II to form a support for the glasses and also to improve the general appearance of the tray. A large opening l8 may also be formed in the tray if desired to receive a larger article such as a pitcher or the like which may be required in connection with the medicines. A depressed lip I! may be formed around this large opening I6 for the same purpose as the lips l5 above mentioned.

A card holder 20 is formed in the horizontal surface I 0 adjacent each of the openings I 4. Each card holder may comprise an easel 2! which is struck out of the blank and is bent upwardly into an inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. A plurality of clips 22 may be struck out of each easel 2| and may be suitably displaced with respect thereto to receive and hold a card or the like in front of the opening H and without obscuring any insignia which may be present on the card. The easel 2| is preferably bent at such an angle that the card may be readily inserted or removed when the glass is in place in 50 the opening I and at the same time to permit the glass to be readily removed from the openingwithout contact with the card.

Obviously the card holders may be located in other convenient positions. For example, they may be placed behind the glass openings instead of being in front of them, although the front position is preferable as it leaves the entire card exposed to view.

It isto be understood that the entire device may be supported and carried in any convenient manner as, for example, upon a serving tray, in which case the device is made to fit properly therein.

In using the above device, the medicine glasses and the cards are inserted in their respective openings l4 and card holders in the medicine room when the medicines are made up, so that the tray can be taken by the attending nurse to the various patients.

It will be noted that the above device is of cheap and simple construction, presents a pleasing appearance and is otherwise suited for the purpose specified.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 a holder for a single glass is shown comprising a horizontal surface having supporting legs 26 bent downwardly at the corners and joined by side flanges 21 in a manner similar to that outlined above. A central opening 28 is provided, surrounded by a depressed lip 29 adapted to receive a medicine glass. An easel 30 is struck from the horizontal surface 25 and is provided with clips 3| for receiving an identifying card. It is noted that the construction is similar to that outlined in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 except that it is formed to accommodate only a single glass and a single card. This form may be utilized in instances where special medicines are prepared or where the medicine for a single patient is taken from the medicine room by a private nurse. It may also be used where the medicine is to be left in the patients room and in various other instances which will be readily pior art.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto but that various changes and subsitutions may be made therein by a person skilled in the art. The invention is to be limited only in accordance with the 101- lowing claims when interpreted in view of the 10 prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A medicine glass holder comprising a tray formed from a one-piece blank having its edges bent downwardly to form supporting legs and 15 having downwardly extended peripheral flanges joining said legs, a plurality of openings arranged in rows in said tray a nd having downwardlybent lips surrounding said openings and adapted to receive and support medicine glasses, 20 and a card hglderpgmprisingan easel struck out of said tray and bent upwardly into inclined position in front of each opening and clips formed integral with said holder and adapted to receive and support a card.

2. A medicine glass holder formed from a one piece blank, said holder comprising a top horizontal surface provided with an opening adapted to receive a medicine glass or the like and having its edges bend downwardly to form supporting legs, an easel struck out of the horizontal surface or the holder and bent upwardly adJa; cent said opening and clip meansstruck out of said easel and adapted to receive and hold-an identifying card without concealing the insignia thereon.

CHRISTIAN W. 

